OCR Text |
Show INVESTIGATOR HAS SCUFFLE IN LfKOFFICE Deputy Clerk in the Land Board Forcibly Restrains Accountant Brown From Taking Documents. NEAR-ROW STARTS IN , CHAMBERS'S ROOMS Executive Rescinds Suspension Suspen-sion of Secretary on Condition Con-dition That Audit Will Not Be Hampered. The surcharged condition of nervous tension at the capitol came near the breaking point twice yesterday, once in the morning in the office of Fred W. Chambers, fish and game commissioner, and again in the afternoon in the office of-fice of William J. Lynch, secretary of the state land board, both clashes growing grow-ing out of Governor Simon Bamberger's Bamber-ger's $25,000 audit probe. The governor 3-esterday rescinded his order suspending Secretary W. J. Lynch of the land board, who is an employee of the board itself, and responsible to it under bond, as well as to the governor. gov-ernor. Governor Bamberger's action followed an understanding that the audit of the books of the land board is in no manner to be hampered. The order or-der affecting Fred W. Chambers, fish and game commissioner, however, was not modified. F. D. Brown, special auditor appointed appoint-ed by Governor Bamberger, and persona non grata with Secretary Lynch, has been transferred to an audit of the books of the state fish and game commissioner. com-missioner. The audit of the land board records has been placed in the hands of State Auditor Joseph Kirie, and it is understood under-stood that possibly a score of examiners will be put to work shortly to clear up the work if possible before the expiration expira-tion of the term of office of the present pres-ent board, March 11. Chambers Stands Ground. Through his attorney, A. B. Barnes, former attorney general, Mr. Chambers last night stated that he positively would not resign. Neither will he leave office until his books are audited and he is given a satisfactory checkout. The task of selecting an entire new land "board is now in progress. It is determined by those in authority that a clean sweep shall be made, even Arnold Ar-nold Giauque, a Democrat, being included in-cluded in the cleaning up. With the incoming in-coming of the new board it ' is certain that Secretary Lynch will be retired. Probable New Member. Advices from Ogden are to the effect ef-fect that Arthur Kuhn, Republican, an expert accountant who assumed his duties du-ties as special auditor yesterdav, is to be one of the members of the new board now being formed. It is said that Kuhn is expected to gather much information infor-mation in his present check which will be of value to him later when he becomes be-comes a member of the new board. Meanwhile the check on the land board books is continuing under an understanding un-derstanding that the work is to be done only when one or more members of the beard are present. Closed-door Session. The atmosphere at the capitol yesterday yes-terday was electrified throughout the dav, and bids fair to continue so until the new board is appointed, the report of the auditor is made and the new order of things goes into effect. There was little or no excitement at the office of the land board in the morning, when it was announced that Governor Bamberger had rescinded his order as affecting Secretary Lvnch and that the elected state auditor had been placed in charge of affairs. The land board met in special session, and, while behind closed doors the situation was discussed. -all that was given out for publication was "routine business is being transacted." Shields as Peacemaker. The first break come when Mr. Chambers, Cham-bers, upon reaching his office, found that Mrs. Vera Haas, his stenographer, had been dismissed by an emissarv of the governor. A short time later J. H. Cook, custodian of the capitol, and James Shields, the governor's messenger, messen-ger, entered the office and ordered the (Contir.ued on Pago Nine) INVESTIGATOR HAS SCUFFLE W OFFICE (Continued from Page One.) commissioner to leave forthwith. Chambers Cham-bers refused and insisted upon consulting consult-ing with his attorneys, A. R. Barnes and G. A. Iverson, former assistant attorney at-torney general. These attorneys conferred with Attorney At-torney General Dan B. Shields, who assumed as-sumed the role of peacemaker and composer com-poser of difficulties. Mr. Shields ordered or-dered the custodian and the governor's , messenger to leave the office of Commissioner Com-missioner Chambers. Tears Down Notice. ' Attornev Barnes plucked off the door a notice that the office was " closed." This notice had been posted by the governor's messenger. In tearing off the sign, a3 he later explained, Attorney Attor-ney Barnes took the ground that the office of-fice was "not closed," that Commissioner Commis-sioner Chambers was entitled to it for the brief remainder of his term, and especially in view of the fact that an audit was in progress and that he was entitled to see it completed before retiring. retir-ing. Chambers to Stick. "Commissioner Chambers positively will not resign, ' ' declared Attorney Barnes. Mr. Chambers remained in his office all day without lunch or clerical help. When Special Auditor F. D. Brown was ousted from the office of the state ! land board and went over to the fish and game commissioner's office, Mr. Chambers commenced going over tho dreary grind of figures with him, and continued at this task until the early evening hours. Commissioner Chambers will be back on the task bright and early ear-ly this morning. "What threatened to be an altercation I between Auditor Francis D. Brown, especially es-pecially appointed by Governor Simon Bamberger and Herbert Smyth, deputy in the office of the land board, occurred late yesterday afternoon, when Brown who had been ordered by the administration to leave the work in that department and proceed with work in the office of Mr. Chambers, state fish and game commissioner, commis-sioner, attempted to take out with him a package of books and papers. Near Clash in Land Office. Mr. Brown was halted by Smvth on orders of the land board and told that the situation had chanered around, and that he was not to be permitted to take out anything from the offices of the land board. He first demurred, then attempted attempt-ed to make his way out, but was physically physi-cally blocked by Smyth. After appealing to several state officers, Brown left the office of the state land board and proceeded pro-ceeded to the office of the fish and same commissioner across the hall, where he worked with Commissioner Chambers the remainder of the afternoon. Attorney C. W. Iverson met with the land board in its special session for a few moments yesterday afternoon and on leaving stated that the board was pursuing pur-suing the even tenor of its way and was undisturbed by the proceedings. He did admit, on questioning, that the members were feeling anything but badly over the turn affairs had taken. Secretary Lynch was loath to be quoted, quot-ed, but reiterated his statement of some weeks ago that he sincerely trusted that whatever check was made would be thorough in every respect. He added that he was naturally well pleased with the turn affairs had taken over night |